Read full description of the books La maravillosa medicina de Jorge:

When I was twelve years old I gave a mini presentation to my English class about this book. Afterwards it was time for questions, one annoying girl (who looked strangely like Princess Leia from Star Wars) persisted in asking me, several times, if I didn’t realise that this was a “kid’s book.” She couldn’t understand how I could be reading it at my age; she even went as far as to call me childish. I was terribly insulted. I didn’t know how to respond. She went after me and gave her presentation on The Golden Compass which she said, whilst looking at me, with her nose up in the air, was a book for adults. Her mum had read it after all.

"Never grow up...always down."

So here I am, ten years on, reading my childish book and not giving two shits about it. If I could go back in time, I’d have a thing or two to say to that Princess Leia look-a-like. I’d tell her that you are never too old to enjoy a good children’s book; I’d tell her that a good piece of literature is universal, and has the potential to be enjoyed by all; I’d tell her that books are everything, and contain knowledge beyond her narrow comprehension; I’d tell her that I was still a child myself, so why couldn’t I read it? I’d tell her to stop pretending to be an adult, that’s not exactly something great. And most importantly, I’d tell her not to kiss boys with the last name Skywalker. That could be uncomfortable.

I’m digressing here. But, what I’m trying to say is, despite what people like that girl whose name I have long since forgotten think, children’s books really can be enjoyed by all. This is a fun little story. It shows us that children can get their own back on adults who mistreat them; it shows us that people can only be pushed too far before they snap back.

"George didn't say a word. He felt quite trembly. He knew something tremendous had taken place that morning. For a few brief moments he had touched with the very tips of his fingers the edge of a magic world."

There’s being a strict parent (or grandparent), and then there’s parental tyranny. George is the voice of the little guy; he is the voice of a boy who learnt how to stand up for himself, and finally got his own back on those that were just that little bit too mean to him. And in the process he does some good too. Honestly though kids, don’t go feeding your grandparents weird concoctions; it could be incredibly dangerous!

Read information about the author

Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to prominence in the 1940's with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors.

Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as A Piece of Cake. The story, about his wartime adventures, was bought by the Saturday Evening Post for $900, and propelled him into a career as a writer. Its title was inspired by a highly inaccurate and sensationalized article about the crash that blinded him, which claimed he had been shot down instead of simply having to land because of low fuel.

His first children's book was The Gremlins, about mischievous little creatures that were part of RAF folklore. The book was commissioned by Walt Disney for a film that was never made, and published in 1943. Dahl went on to create some of the best-loved children's stories of the 20th century, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and James and the Giant Peach.

He also had a successful parallel career as the writer of macabre adult short stories, usually with a dark sense of humour and a surprise ending. Many were originally written for American magazines such as Ladies Home Journal, Harper's, Playboy and The New Yorker, then subsequently collected by Dahl into anthologies, gaining world-wide acclaim. Dahl wrote more than 60 short stories and they have appeared in numerous collections, some only being published in book form after his death. His stories also brought him three Edgar Awards: in 1954, for the collection Someone Like You; in 1959, for the story "The Landlady"; and in 1980, for the episode of Tales of the Unexpected based on "Skin".